Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Last week I dashed over to see my mother. One of the worst things about living here is that we don't see our family often enough and the guilt I feel about it is a burden I'll always have. In a weak moment my mother once confessed that all she'd wanted was to be able to have her grandchildren calling in for tea after school....

The whole trip was organised pretty much at the last minute as H. does have to pick up the slack: walk the dogs, act as taxi driver and chief cook and bottle washer as well as juggling his own stuff.I also wanted to do it on a shoestring.H. was generous and donated a handful of air miles, the ones he saves for that exciting trip we're always going to take..I managed to find a good deal on car hire; a car is essential - there are shoestrings and shoestrings and so I set off with a light heart.My first day there and a fool trying to beat the lights drove into the side of the car. As I write I can feel my blood pressure rising...And, of course, I hadn't taken the extra insurance. I usually do but this time I didn't...so to save some fool a three minute wait at the lights it cost me 600 pounds!And on top of that my allergies kicked in. Just don't talk to me about Spring....

But it was lovely to see Mum and in spite of all, we still managed to have a good time.

Dear Angela ... so sorry to hear about the car accident and the money it cost :((Happy though that you and your mum had a good visit. We have "Claritin" here that saves me during the dreaded allergy season ... may be time to take a trip to the pharmacy? Much peace & love, JP

Thank you for all your kind support.Indeed the only thing hurt was my purse, thank goodness. At the time I was very shaken because in all the years I've been driving I've never had a bump which I'm quite proud of.My mother was hilarious though...she was desperate to get out of the car and string him from the nearest tree!The whole insurance thing with rental cars is a grey area as far as I'm concerned and as no one stopped it would have been difficult to allocate blame...Angela

Oh dear, what with car crashes and allergies you are having a tough time. I've a feelng tho with the end of Spring, your luck will change and life will be sweet again. Glad you weren't hurt. It's only money...she said glibly...

There's bet basketball something about Spring that I can't resist; I spend my days in the garden centre and my weekends at rose shows and, to tell the truth, sportsbook I'm more at home here than hobnobbing with the stars at Cannes though I was pretty sick at missing U2's free mini concert on the steps of the Palais des Festivals.I'm march madness putting my two blogs on hold now till the end of summer when I should be able to write and visit more regularly. I wish you a happy three months.. Be good!http://www.enterbet.com